Coast Guard assists after fishing vessel capsizes

Published 11:23 am Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Special to The News

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard assisted in the rescue of four crewmembers from a fishing vessel after it capsized near Sabine Pass on Tuesday morning.

Eighth Coast Guard District watchstanders in New Orleans received an emergency position indicating radio beacon signal from the 65-foot fishing vessel Captain M&M, which provided an approximate location of the vessel, and launched an Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew.

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Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders launched a Station Sabine 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and sent out an urgent marine information broadcast with the vessel’s location.

A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office boat crew arrived on scene after receiving the UMIB, rescued the four crewmembers from the water and transferred them to the 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat shortly after.

All four crewmembers were transferred to Coast Guard Station Sabine.

“Today the vessel’s emergency position indicating radio beacon showed its importance and helped to save four lives,” said Lt. J.G. Nelson, a Sector Houston-Galveston watchstander. “The vessel’s crew was not able to make radio contact or get their personal flotation devices on prior to the vessel capsizing, but the EPIRB did its job and notified the Coast Guard.”

There were no reported injuries.